Patentable/Patents/US-8484719
US-8484719

Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and media storing a program therefor

PublishedJuly 9, 2013
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Inventorsnot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

A disclosed information processing apparatus makes it possible for a user to perform a desired operation easily by displaying operation candidates based on an operation history. The apparatus comprises a storage unit in which an operation history table is stored, the table associating tasks with operations. A user who performs an operation is authenticated by a user authentication unit. Task information concerning the authenticated user is acquired by a task acquisition unit. Based on the acquired task information, an operation candidate presenting unit presents operation candidates by referring to the operation history table. The operation history table is updated by a history management unit in accordance with an operation designated by the user.

Patent Claims
13 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. An information processing apparatus to which a storage unit that stores (a) a task list table including one or more items of task information, each particular item of task information indicating a particular task related to a user's work, a scheduled date-and-time of the particular task and a task ID associated with the particular task to be performed by the user, and (b) an operation history table associating the task information with an operation is connected, the information processing apparatus comprising: a user authentication unit that identifies a user who carries out an operation; a task acquisition unit that acquires the task information concerning the user identified by the user authentication unit, from the task list table; an operation candidate presenting unit that presents an operation candidate, including the task ID, based on the task information acquired by the task acquisition unit and by referring to the operation history table, the operation candidate presenting unit including a selection probability calculating unit that calculates for each specific operation candidate of a plurality of operation candidates, a probability of selection of the specific operation candidate by the user; and a history management unit that updates the operation history table in accordance with an operation designated by the user, wherein the task acquisition unit acquires a current date-and-time, and for each specific task indicated in the task list table, compares the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task to the acquired current time before the task acquisition unit acquires the task information from the task list table, and if the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task is after the acquired current time, the task acquisition unit acquires the task information, including the task ID, of the specific task, and wherein the specific task indicated in the task information acquired from the task list table includes at least one of to-do information indicating user tasks the user planned to perform, a project to which the user has been assigned, or a user group of which the user is a member, wherein the operation candidate presenting unit presents the plurality of operation candidates in a decreasing order of probability of selection of the operation candidates.

Plain English Translation

An information processing system presents likely operations to a user based on their tasks. It stores two tables: a task list (tasks, deadlines, IDs) and an operation history (tasks associated with operations). The system authenticates the user, retrieves the user's task information (to-dos, projects, groups) from the task list, but only considers tasks where the deadline is in the future. It presents operation candidates based on matching task information from the history table. Each candidate's selection probability is calculated, and the candidates are displayed from most to least probable. The operation history is updated after each user action.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with date/time information indicating when the operation was carried out, and the operation candidate presenting unit presents the operation candidates in chronological order from the current date/time based on the date/time information in the operation history table.

Plain English Translation

The information processing system of claim 1 also includes timestamps of when operations were performed in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the system prioritizes candidates based on recency, showing the most recently performed operations first (chronologically from the current time).

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the operation candidate presenting unit presents the operation candidates based on correspondence between the user information in the operation history table and the user identified by the user authentication unit.

Plain English Translation

The information processing system of claim 1 also stores user information associated with each operation in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the system filters the list to show only operations previously performed by the currently authenticated user.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the operation candidate presenting unit presents the operation candidates regardless of whether or not the user information in the operation history table corresponds to the user identified by the user authentication unit.

Plain English Translation

The information processing system of claim 1 also stores user information associated with each operation in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the system disregards the user information in the operation history table and presents candidates based solely on task information, regardless of who performed the operation in the past.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the task information identifies at least one of a meeting, a business trip and another scheduled work activity of the user.

Plain English Translation

The information processing system of claim 1 considers several types of scheduled items when retrieving task information. Specifically, the task information from the task list can represent meetings, business trips, or other scheduled work activities for the user.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. An information processing method that utilizes information stored in a storage unit that stores (a) a task list table including one or more items of task information, each particular item of task information indicating a particular task related to a user's work, a scheduled date-and-time of the particular task and a task ID associated with the particular task to be performed by the user, and (b) an operation history table associating the task information with an operation, the information processing method comprising the steps of: (i) authenticating a user who performs an operation; (ii) acquiring the task information concerning the authenticated user, from the task list table; (iii) presenting an operation candidate based on the acquired task information, including the task ID, and by referring to the operation history table; (iv) calculating for each specific operation candidate of a plurality of operation candidates, a probability of selection of the specific operation candidate by the user; (v) presenting the plurality of operation candidates in a decreasing order of probability of selection of the operation candidates; and (i) updating the operation history table in accordance with an operation designated by the user, wherein the information processing method further comprises: (j) acquiring a current date-and-time, and for each specific task indicated in the task list table and concerning the user, comparing the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task to the acquired current time before the task information of the specific task is acquired in (ii), wherein if the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task is after the acquired current time, the task information, including the task ID, of the specific task is acquired in (ii), and wherein the specific task indicated in the task information acquired from the task list table includes at least one of to-do information indicating user tasks the user planned to perform, a project to which the user has been assigned, or a user group of which the user is a member.

Plain English Translation

An information processing method predicts operations based on a user's tasks. It uses a task list (tasks, deadlines, IDs) and an operation history (tasks linked to operations). The method authenticates the user and gets the user's task information (to-dos, projects, groups) from the task list, but only tasks with future deadlines are considered. It presents operation candidates based on matching task information from the history table. Each candidate’s selection probability is calculated, and candidates are shown in decreasing order of probability. The operation history is updated after each user action.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with date/time information indicating when the operation was carried out, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates in chronological order from the current date/time based on the date/time information in the operation history table.

Plain English Translation

The information processing method of claim 6 also includes timestamps of when operations were performed in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the method prioritizes candidates based on recency, showing the most recently performed operations first (chronologically from the current time).

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates based on correspondence between the user information in the operation history table and the user authenticated in the user authentication step.

Plain English Translation

The information processing method of claim 6 also stores user information associated with each operation in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the method filters the list to show only operations previously performed by the currently authenticated user.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The information processing method according to claim 6 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates regardless of whether or not the user information in the operation history table corresponds to the user authenticated in the user authentication step.

Plain English Translation

The information processing method of claim 6 also stores user information associated with each operation in the operation history table. When presenting operation candidates, the method disregards the user information in the operation history table and presents candidates based solely on task information, regardless of who performed the operation in the past.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium storing a program for causing a computer to carry out an information processing method that utilizes information stored in a storage unit that stores (a) a task list table including one or more items of task information each particular item of task information indicating a particular task related to a user's work, a scheduled date-and-time of the particular task and a task ID associated with the particular task to be performed by the user, and (b) an operation history table associating the task information with an operation, the information processing method comprising the steps of: (i) authenticating a user who performs an operation; (ii) acquiring the task information concerning the authenticated user, from the task list table; (iii) presenting an operation candidate based on the acquired task information, including the task ID, and by referring to the operation history table; (iv) calculating for each specific operation candidate of a plurality of operation candidates, a probability of selection of the specific operation candidate by the user; (v) presenting the plurality of operation candidates in a decreasing order of probability of selection of the operation candidates; and (i) updating the operation history table in accordance with an operation designated by the user, wherein the information processing method further comprises: (j) acquiring a current date-and-time, and for each specific task indicated in the task list table and concerning the user, comparing the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task to the acquired current time before the task information of the specific task is acquired in (ii) wherein if the scheduled date-and-time of the specific task is after the acquired current time, the task information, including the task ID, of the specific task is acquired in (ii), and wherein the specific task indicated in the task information acquired from the task list table includes at least one of to-do information indicating user tasks the user planned to perform, a project to which the user has been assigned, or a user group of which the user is a member.

Plain English Translation

A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores instructions for predicting operations based on user's tasks. The instructions cause a computer to: use a task list (tasks, deadlines, IDs) and an operation history (tasks linked to operations); authenticate the user; get user's task information (to-dos, projects, groups) from the task list, considering only tasks with future deadlines; present operation candidates based on matching task information from the history table; calculate selection probability for each candidate and display them in decreasing order; and update the operation history after each user action.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with date/time information indicating when the operation was carried out, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates in chronological order from the current date/time based on the date/time information in the operation history table.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium of claim 10 uses an operation history table that includes timestamps for operations. The instructions further cause the computer to prioritize operation candidates based on recency, showing the most recently performed operations first (chronologically from the current time).

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates based on correspondence between the user information in the operation history table and the user identified by the user authentication unit.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium of claim 10 uses an operation history table that stores user information associated with each operation. The instructions further cause the computer to filter the list of operation candidates to show only operations previously performed by the currently authenticated user.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The computer-readable recording medium according to claim 10 , wherein the operation history table associates the task information with information about the user who performed the operation, and the method further includes presenting operation candidates regardless of whether or not the user information in the operation history table corresponds to the user identified by the user authentication unit.

Plain English Translation

The computer-readable medium of claim 10 uses an operation history table that stores user information associated with each operation. The instructions further cause the computer to disregard user information and present candidates based solely on task information, regardless of who performed the operation in the past.

Classification Codes (CPC)

Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

February 8, 2008

Publication Date

July 9, 2013

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